The Winds of Change

by jodyle1

A single tear slid down Kagome's cheek, raking a path through the dirt and dried blood smeared across her cheeks as it went. She felt as though her heart was being ripped clear of her chest by cruel, unforgiving fingers as she watched the indecision cross Inuyasha's features in his moment of hesitancy. SessKags

6. Chapter 6

Winds of Change

jodyle1

Chapter Six

Lustrous, golden eyes narrowed into a piercing glare as Seshomaru scrutinized their current location. The beautiful, gleaming sun had just sunk bellow the rugged, mountainous horizon, painting the sky with different shades of cerulean blue and burnt orange, and marking the end of yet another monotonous, lengthy summer afternoon spent searching for Naraku's decrepit offspring. Sesshomaru, along with Rin and Jaken, were currently, and had been for the majority of the day, walking through an expansive forrest, filled with broad-trunked trees, much the same height as Sesshomaru's true form, who's roots had grown so wildly, they now dominated the ground on which the small party stood.

Sesshomaru had been incorrigible in his search, never slowing or allowing himself to be deterred, and his persistence had taken it's toll on his company. Rin's exhaustion was evident in her silence, for she would usually sing and dance about, making fun and laughing enthusiastically, until her Lord ordered her to be still and rest awhile. Despite having ridden astride Ah-Un's back all morning and much of the fading afternoon, she dragged her feet along the dirty ground, head hung in fatigue, eyes gradually drifting closed. Jaken was not in much better shape. He had endured Rin's ministrations the entire day and hadn't fared well; there were still sakura blossoms perched atop his head in a loose crown formation, having been too weary to shake them off.

Signaling to his company to stop for the night, he turned to face the unruly forrest and stalked to the nearest tree, falling into a stiff, upright sitting position at it's base. He regretted having to stop each night, for he really did not need to rest, but if he wished to protect Rin, she would have to stay by his side, and Rin did need to rest. Sesshomaru sensed Jaken's pathetic youki disappear into the spacious forrest beyond his eyelids, and deduced that he must have gone to gather some food for Rin, which Sesshomaru refused to do, as it would tarnish his nobility. He did care for Rin immensely, although he would not lower his standards to accommodate for her well-being - that is precisely the reason he allowed Jaken, the insufferable fool, to pursue him like a sick puppy. Sesshomaru released a long, drawn out breath in an inaudible sigh of boredom, as his mind waded into the endless stream of thoughts flowing through the dark recesses of his subconscious; not quite under the ignorant spell of sleep, but still very much aware and alert.

He was startled from his restful state by an irritating prickling sensation in his body. Gently opening his plum eyelids, he peered around the encampment for the disturbance, but found that nothing was not as it should be; Rin was curled against Ah-Un's chest and Jaken was rested on the rough ground near-by. Instead of placating the unease he felt, this only served to pique his curiosity. The tingling sense over his skin was an instinctive reaction, warning him of a significant power source close-by. He had felt this sensation only a handful of times in his lifetime, all of which had been during his youth, and caused by his father's most potent emotions; rage, passion and the anguish of loosing a mate.

The power source that had tripped his senses felt disoriented and uncontrolled, as though it's owner was not, or could not, restrain themselves. This sudden appearance could only mean one of two things. His brainless half brother had somehow managed to harness his full, potential demonic strength, which would leave the Hanyou untrained and confused, a danger to himself and everyone around him, or the wicked Naraku had engineered yet another foul ploy. Believing the latter, Seshomaru relaxed back into the tree he was sitting beneath. He had no interest in meeting with Naraku before he had obtained the young mirror-girl, and if Naraku truly was behind the unexpected power surge he was sensing, he would not be found unless he wished it so, therefore there was no reason to bound into the forrest unwittingly, demanding to know the source of the disruption. No, that sort of action was typical of his repugnant half-brother. He would be patient, and not before long, he would rid the world of the Hanyou named Naraku.